In uncertain times, there’s comfort in predictability.
Wow. Just wow.
We had a prof in law school who wouldn’t permit his class to be taped for a student who was hospitalized. Prof declared he’d just have to repeat the semester. Rumor has it the classmates taped the class anyway - and the hospitalized student passed the final exam.
6 Likes
I actually look forward to serving on a jury. I’ve been called several times, but been dismissed every time because I know too much (snort). One time it was a drunk driving case where I knew the arresting officer - he was a regular at the sushi bar where I sushi-ed. Another time was a wrongful death case when, at the time, I was a board member of a non-profit being sued for wrongful death. I was called for a burglary/assault case that happened around the corner from my childhood home, and I knew a LOT about the crime scene because I used to walk/ride my bike through the apartment’s parking lot as a shortcut to the store. There was the murder case where I was excused because my brother and one of my best friends were victims of a violent crime (the friend was killed). And lastly, there was some case I don’t even recall what it was, but when I was called into the jury box, the judge announced to both sides that he knew me and my family, because he’d been the Assistant DA who prosecuted the case involving my brother and friend (he was also a friend of my mom’s).
I’m naive enough to believe in the jury system in spite of the inherent flaws. It ain’t perfect, but I can’t think of a better way.
7 Likes
Despite your experience! 
So am I. And I also believe it’s everyone’s responsibility to serve. We all might need a jury one day.
2 Likes
Other countries also have functioning judiciary systems that don’t rely on juries, or require mandatory minimum sentences on which judges don’t have any influence 
Meh.
But even if you could, if this is the system in the country in which one lives, this is the judicial system one has.
So the choices are to do one’s part in civic duty, do something proactive to change the system, (even then, it’s still the system till it changes), or move somewhere else where the system is more to one’s preferences.
5 Likes
Can I use baking spray with flour to coat poultry or meat before pan-frying/sauteing/baking?
Yes, I am that lazy. No one else on the internet seems to have tried this, so it’s probably a very bad idea…
How terrible. I’m so sorry.
2 Likes
Generally I agree. But certain areas of the law could really be improved by the use of expert panels instead. Complex antitrust law suits and patents are areas where very often juries get it wrong. There are probably other areas but those were the ones I’d be shaking my head at over and over.
Criminal law is where juries are most important, in my opinion. Too easy for small town judge-prosecution cahoots.
That’s The Night That The Lights Went Out In Georgia
(“don’t trust your soul to no backwoods Southern lawyer, `cause the judge in the town’s got bloodstains on his hands…”)
Edit to add:
Let us know how it works out if you try it. I’ve only used the stuff once for a cake or something but the nozzle was half clogged (I’d inherited it from someone else). But it seems from what I’ve seen in adverts that it might be a thinner coating than you’d want for frying?
2 Likes
My problem with the jury system (in the US) is… It is supposed to be a jury of your peers.
I was on one trial where they brought in 150 people to pair it down to 14 (2 alternates). It took 2 days to get through the voir dire process and they basically picked the first 14 numbers. They could have brought in 20 people, not 150…
It shouldn’t have to be the “perfect” jury of your peers – just 12 average people that don’t know you and don’t have a predetermined prejudice against you.
And yes, I got picked for that jury because I got there early and got a low number. It was 3 weeks of my life wasted. The evidence could have been condensed into 2-3 hours – and all of the waiting around while the attorneys filed a new motion for this and a new motion for that.
I was thankful that my employer let me come into the office after court (at night) to put in my hours and get my work done – otherwise I would not have received a paycheck for those 3 weeks.
You know that lawyers have the right to strike jurors for various reasons, yes? No way in hell that that’s only going to happen eight times.
I only want a really thin coating just to insulate the meat a little bit and crisp slightly – like I would do when I lightly dredge in flour and then spritz with baking spray and pan fry in a scant amount of oil.
1 Like
So tell those lawyers they can strike two people or none at all.
Why not follow Arizona –
“A groundbreaking rule that took effect on Jan. 1, 2022, makes Arizona the first state to eliminate peremptory challenges in all jury trials. The changes directly impact civil and liability defense, as well as criminal, justice, and eviction courts.Feb 24, 2022”
Source: Elimination Premptory Challengs
That’s not the way it works.
Give it a shot. Should work, right?
Anything to inconvenience the average person.
The new rule seems to be working in Arizona.
1 Like
Practically speaking, there are no more jury trials for civil cases in the UK.
2 Likes
That’s very simplistic. The rule is intended to protect defendants from biased jurors.
1 Like
